Archives for August 2011

Socialite, fashion authority, event planner, philanthropist, motivational speaker and community servant are just a few of the titles used to explain the multifaceted individual known as Richard Moody, the official event planner for Caribbean Fashion Week.

Yet Moody is not just a name, its a brand. Through creativity and impeccable taste, IamMoody has established itself as an excellent event management crew, producing original, fresh and innovative party concepts. With a passion for perfection, and eye for detail, IamMoody combines trendy ideas with elegance and sophistication, to deliver results that are full of color, texture and imagination.Island Fuse caught up with Moody backstage to get the inside scoop.

IFE:How many years have you been involved in CFW?

MOODY: It’s my third year. I did CFW 2008, 2010 & 2011.

IFE: Is Moody more than a name?

MOODY: Yes! An attitude. Many years ago my nephew said “‘Moody’ is not just a name. It’s an attitude.” Now it’s a brand.

IFE:What is it about Moody’s events that distinguish them from any other?

MOODY: Commitment to detail, excellence, wanting client’s services to receive what is hip, fashionable and fun. We are very fun to work with. From front end to back end.

IFE:There is almost a seamless line between your business and philanthropy activities. How important is charity?.

MOODY: If we don’t give back we are never going to succeed. Our compassion for human spirit must be consistent. We must give to help each other. There shouldn’t be have’s and have not’s. I also work with several charities such as Humbleslice, Horizons Youth Program etc.

IFE:Many people search to find their “calling” in life. At what point in your life did you realize your calling?

MOODY: As a young person someone tapped me and said “you’re going to be somebody and I’m going to watch you.” Mentorship was important for me. I was brought up in church, that inspired my activities in charity. My parents were in the military, that’s how I travelled a lot. At University I was a cheer leader, this is how I got involved in modeling. I later got involved in AVEDA and HORST. They advised me to be a fashion choreographer, teaching models how to walk and visual concepts. But I was not only creative, I also had a business side.

IFE:What advice would you give someone coming up in the business?

MOODY: Whatever you are looking to do, don’t give up, or give in. Never say never. Seek internship and get involved. Don’t take NO! as final.

Last week, Governor Dayton and the Legislature took a step that could have a big impact on property taxes in Minneapolis. They passed into law a merger of two closed pension funds — the Minneapolis Police Relief Association (MPRA) and the Minneapolis Fire Relief Association (MFRA) — with the State’s professionally-run Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA).

The merger is not complete: all the other parties to the agreement that we have reached must ratify it. But as long as they do so and abide by the agreement, we will have solved a 30-year problem that has led to unnecessary, skyrocketing costs that have been passed on to taxpayers.

I’d like to give you some background on the current problem, explain the solution and tell you what comes next.

Background: a system that serves nobody well

As I explained in my budget address last year and severaltimes since then, the MPRA and the MFRA have been a principal cause of recent property-tax increases on Minneapolis homeowners and businesses.

In its current form, I don’t think the closed-pension system serves anybody well: it maximizes risk, volatility and administrative expenses that benefit neither pensioners nor taxpayers. As a result, the system also maximizes litigation, and the court has agreed with us that taxpayers have overpaid tens of millions of dollars in the last decade.

Solution: a merger

The new law that authorizes a merger of the closed funds into the State fund is part of a compromise agreement. Because it is a compromise, by definition it does not represent everything that the City Council and I wanted. But if honored by all sides, both pensioners and taxpayers will benefit from it. Here’s how.

The benefit to pensioners is obvious: police pensioners will get a 43% increase in their benefits in just four years, while fire pensioners will see a 50% increase. By any stretch of the imagination, this is a good deal for them. So how can it be a good deal for taxpayers?

Think of this merger like refinancing a mortgage, but no ordinary re-fi: instead, imagine getting out of the worst mortgage ever invented. Imagine getting out of an adjustable-rate mortgage with interest rates well into double digits into a fixed, long-term, low-interest mortgage. A lot of value is created when you do that, and that’s what this merger does: it gets us out of a system of damaging volatility and into one of lower-cost stability while still dramatically increasing benefits for pensioners.

Without a merger, this volatility would have continued: in fact, without a merger, the impact on your property taxes in the next two years would have been just as large as it was last year. That’s why finally solving this problem has been one of my highest priorities.

What’s next

The merger is not complete. Before it can take effect, it has to be ratified six times: by the boards and the membership of the police and fire pension funds, by the State PERA board and by the City Council.

Although the agreement benefits both sides, the horizon is not entirely clear. Some members of the police fund oppose the agreement that their leaders negotiated. They argue that a 43% increase in four years is not enough.

As Mayor, I have signed the merger agreement with the leaders of the police fund and will encourage the City Council to honor it as well. I did so even though this merger does not represent everything that I felt taxpayers deserved, but I did so because it will stop unwarranted tax increaseson property-tax payers and is very fair to pensioners.

As long as those who would seek to derail this agreement do not succeed, I hope to be able to share with you soon that we have finally, permanently fixed a problem that has vexed Minneapolis for 30 years.

It has been pretty warm for the past few weeks. This heat is as intense as the winter was this past year. Personally I prefer the heat as opposed to the cold, but both can be equally as dangerous. Just as people can freeze to death in the winter, they can just as easily die in the heat. Knowing how to help yourself and those around you enjoy and protect yourself from the heat is essential to having a good and safe summer. Here are some helpful hints as to how deal with the heat and humidity.

Avoid Too Much Sunshine- Sunburns reduce the body’s ability to cool down. In addition, the process of getting a sunburn or tan can dehydrate the body and lead to overheating.

Stay Indoors- While it is tempting to allow children to play outside during really hot and humid days, this can cause their bodies to overheat and cause them to get sick.

Visit Air Conditioners- If you do not have an air conditioner, visit a store or other pubic area that does have an air conditioner. This can make you feel cooler and more comfortable.

Wear Light Clothing- While it may seem counterproductive, if you wear light colored clothing and light material that covers the body you can feel cooler and protect yourself from sunburns.

Drink Water- While it can feel good to enjoy a cool Coke in the shade, there is one reason this does not actually help you in the heat. Coke has caffeine and that dehydrates you. Instead, drink water, juice or some type of other non-caffeinated fluid.

Avoid Alcohol- Beer and other alcohol is famous for causing hangovers. Hangovers are caused because the body is dehydrated. While beer and alcohol can help you relax, these drinks can cause you to quickly dehydrate and cause you to be ill.

With these methods of staying cool and avoiding dehydration, you can make yourself feel better. Remember, keep cool and keep healthy.